Scientific name: Hydrastis canadensis, Silybum marianum

Other names: Marian thistle, Marythistle, St. Mary's thistle

Medical uses and remedies:

Antioxidant
Chronic hepatitis (including hepatitis C)
Cirrhosis
Gallbladder problems
Gallstones
Inflammation
Liver cell injury
Liver disease
Lowering cholesterol levels
Protection against acetaminophen toxic side effects
Psoriasis
Spleen problems

Dosage:

Extract - 420 mg (standardized 70-80 percent silymarin), taken daily for up to 12 weeks or until improvement is noted, whichever occurs first. After that point, 280 mg of similar standardized extract may be taken daily as a preventative.

Seeds - Up to 15 g of seeds may be ground and eaten by the individual, to be taken daily. This form is not therapeutic for liver problems, however.

Tea - Up to 15 g of seeds may be ground and infused as a tea, to be taken daily. This form is not therapeutic for liver problems, however.

Cautions and side effects:

Milk thistle may produce a mild and transient laxative effect in some individuals. Upset stomach has been reported at times. Like most herbs, its use is not recommened by pregnant or nursing women, although in a pair of brief studies, no side effects were reported by pregnant women. Rarely, several cases of anaphylactic shock have been reported in conjunction with the use of milk thistle. Check with a medical professional for additional precautions and contraindications before taking any herb.

Active ingredients:

Silymarin (a bioflavinoid complex which contains: silibinin, silicristin, and silidianin)

Learn about other herbal medicines: browse by common name or scientific name.